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narcoterrorism

American  
[nahr-koh-ter-uh-riz-uhm] / ˌnɑr koʊˈtɛr əˌrɪz əm /

noun

  1. terrorist tactics employed by dealers in illicit drugs, as against competitors or government agents.


narcoterrorism British  
/ ˌnɑːkəʊˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm /

noun

  1. terrorism funded by the sale of illegal drugs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of narcoterrorism

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When DEA agents flew Nicolás Maduro to New York to face narcoterrorism charges, beside him was his wife, Cilia Flores.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 29, 2026

"This collaborative and decisive action is a strategic success for all nations in the Western Hemisphere committed to disrupting and defeating narcoterrorism."

From Barron's Mar. 7, 2026

Tuesday’s operation came a day after Southcom commander Gen. Francis Donovan met in Quito, the capital, with the president and other senior officials to discuss expanding security cooperation against narcoterrorism.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 4, 2026

The operation comes a day after Southcom commander Gen. Francis Donovan visited Ecuador’s capital, Quito, and met with President Daniel Noboa and other senior officials to discuss expanding security cooperation against narcoterrorism.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 4, 2026

Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, has said his country was beginning “a new phase against narcoterrorism and illegal mining.”

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 4, 2026

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